With temperatures dipping below freezing this week and snow falling across the county, some councils have enacted their emergency severe weather protocols.

During the winter months when the weather is below zero for three consecutive nights councils must provide emergency accommodation for rough sleepers.

With snow having settled across the county at various points throughout the week, and with temperatures set to remain below freezing tonight, councils have been responding to the severe conditions.

What is SWEP?

The council has to follow a policy to formally engage the scheme, which is evaluated everyday as the weather chops and changes.

It says: "SWEP will be triggered when the night time temperature is predicted to be zero degrees celsius or below for three consecutive nights.

"Consideration will be given to implementing SWEP when severe weather is forecast that falls short of this definition.

"There is no single definition of severe weather, it includes extreme, wind, rain, cold and snow."

It says the individual sleeping rough must be at risk if they continue to sleep rough during the course of the severe weather, have nowhere available to them to sleep indoors during the course of the severe weather (indoors does not include cars, sheds or garages).

They must also agree to the help offered to them.

Many councils post on their Facebook pages when they enforce the Severe Weather Emergency Protocol.

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So we rounded up all the councils who have implemented the shelter scheme, as temperatures plummet to below freezing and the risk of snow looms.

Ashford Borough Council

Ashford Borough Council has confirmed its Severe Weather Emergency Protocol is in effect.

It said: "Due to the current weather and forecasts SWEP was implemented in Ashford from Thursday, February 22 for those homeless people approaching us considered to have the highest vulnerability.

"Due to the Winter Night Shelter having reached capacity we will be working with a number of partner agencies to offer rough sleepers support in the form of emergency accommodation.

"Accommodation will be provided by the council’s existing temporary accommodation providers."

Canterbury City Council

The council said: "With the 'beast from the east' predicted to bring freezing temperatures our way, we have this morning activated our Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP).

"It is likely to be in place for several days.

"SWEP involves us working with partner organisations including Porchlight, Catching Lives and Street Pastors, to react to reports of a rough sleeper by offering the person support in the form of accommodation such as bed and breakfast or temporary housing.

"During the last activation period, between 2 and 18 February, 46 rough sleepers accessed accommodation for a total of 282 nights."

Homelessness has been on the rise

Dover District Council

The council said: "With freezing temperatures predicted, make sure you’re prepared, and spare a thought for others - for a range of help and advice, see our Severe Weather pages."

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Gravesham Borough Council

"Temperatures are set to plummet tonight and over the weekend.

"Gravesham Borough Council has a severe weather emergency protocol in place which means when the weather drops below zero degrees we will actively speak to anyone seen to be homeless to offer them a temporary place in emergency accommodation straight away."